Battery vent cap

• US 5,132,175 A
• Filed: 06/21/1990
• Issued: 07/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Globe-Union Inc.
• Inventors: Gorelik, Bella, Joyce, Terry W., Mrotek, Edward N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/541,921
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 429/82, 429/86, 429/89, 429/87, 429/88
• US Class Current: 429/86
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/122 Multimode batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/112 Monobloc comprising multiple compartments
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/50 Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/55 on the same side of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/552 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/574 Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A vent cap includes a hollow vent cover which is inserted into a battery vent hole and a flange which retains the vent cap from overinsertion into the vent hole. An aperture near the top of the vent cap communicates with the hollow interior of the vent cover and forms an exhaust path for discharge of gases from within the battery. A flame protection device, for example, a microporous disc, is disposed within the vent cover so that gases must pass through the disc in order to exit the battery through the aperture. A splash guard may be provided in the vent cover to reduce electrolyte leakage into the exhaust path and onto the flame arrestor, thereby inhibiting electrolyte leakage from the battery.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a battery vent cap, said vent cap having a top and a barrel and being configured to sealingly engage a battery fill-hole, said barrel having a longitudinal axis and defining a cavity, said cavity being bounded at a first end by said top and being open at a second end;

said cavity comprising a first chamber adjacent said first end and a second chamber adjacent said second end, said barrel presenting an interior shoulder intermediate said first chamber and said second chamber, said vent cap further including a vent means to said first chamber for effecting fluid communications with said first chamber from without said vent cap;

the apparatus comprising;

a flame arrestor means for impeding passage of flames; and

a holder means for holding said flame arrestor means;

said holder means being generally cup-shaped and defining a well having an open upper end and a bottom at a lower end, said upper end being generally registrable with said interior shoulder, said bottom being penetrated by at least one aperture, said flame arrestor means being affixed within said well in a manner to force fluid flowing through said well to pass through said flame arrestor means;

said holder means being configured appropriately to facilitate insertion of the apparatus substantially fully within said barrel with said upper end and said interior shoulder in a registered abutting orientation.

2. An apparatus for use with a battery vent cap as recited in claim 1 wherein said holder means further includes splash interference means for interfering with entry of liquids through said at least one aperture, said splash interference means substantially blocking passage of liquids to said at least one aperture along said longitudinal axis, said splash interference means being configured to facilitate drainage of liquids emanating from said at least one aperture.

3. An apparatus for use with a battery vent cap as recited in claim 2 wherein said splash interference means is integrally formed with said holder means.

4. An apparatus for use with a battery vent cap as recited in claim 1 wherein said vent cap is integrally formed in a ganged assembly, said vent cap sealingly engaging a home fill-hole and said ganged assembly including a plurality of additional vent cap means for sealingly engaging a plurality of additional fill-holes, said ganged assembly including vias for effecting fluid communications between said home fill-hole and each of said plurality of additional fill-holes when said ganged assembly is installed in said battery.

5. An apparatus for use with a battery vent cap as recited in claim 2 wherein said vent cap is integrally formed in a ganged assembly, said vent cap sealingly engaging a home fill-hole and said ganged assembly including a plurality of additional vent cap means for sealingly engaging a plurality of additional fill-holes, said ganged assembly including vias for effecting fluid communications between said home fill-hole and each of said plurality of additional fill-holes when said ganged assembly is installed in said battery.

6. An apparatus for use with a battery vent cap as recited in claim 3 wherein said vent cap is integrally formed in a ganged assembly, said vent cap sealingly engaging a home fill-hole and said ganged assembly including a plurality of additional vent cap means for sealingly engaging a plurality of additional fill-holes, said ganged assembly including vias for effecting fluid communications between said home fill-hole and each of said plurality of additional fill-holes when said ganged assembly is installed in said battery.

7. An apparatus for use with a battery vent cap as recited in claim 4 wherein at least one of said additional vent cap means is configured substantially the same as said vent cap.

8. An apparatus for use with a battery vent cap as recited in claim 5 wherein at least one of said additional vent cap means is configured substantially the same as said vent cap.

9. An apparatus for use with a battery vent cap as recited in claim 6 wherein at least one of said additional vent cap means is configured substantially the same as said vent cap.

10. A vent cap disposable within a battery fill hole for venting gases from within the battery, comprising:

a first vent cover having a top wall, a tubular side wall extending from the top wall and terminating in an opening proximate a lower end of the first cover, the side wall enclosing an interior space which extends from the top wall to the lower opening;

a lateral flange extending from the top wall of the vent cover;

an aperture which allows communication between an upper exterior surface of the cap and the interior space of the first cover;

a flame arrestor disposed in the interior space of the first vent cover so that gases entering the first vent cover through the open lower end thereof must pass through the flame arrestor in order to exit through the aperture;

a tubular holder securing the flame arrestor to the first vent cover, the holder being secured within the interior space of the first vent cover in communication with the aperture, the holder having means for retaining the flame arrestor in said holder and a window for admitting gases to the interior of said holder; and

a second vent cover extending from the flange at a position spaced from the first vent cover having the flame arrestor therein, the flange having a manifold passage allowing gases generated within a cell associated with the second cover to enter the first vent cover through a space between the side wall of the first cover and the holder which forms a downwardly directed passage allowing communication between the manifold passage in the flange and the window of the holder, permitting venting of gases from the second vent cover through the flame arrestor and aperture in the first vent cover.

11. The vent cap of claim 10, wherein the aperture extends through the flange and opens on a peripheral side edge of the flange.

12. The vent cap of claim 10, wherein the holder includes a splash guard configured to block splashed aqueous electrolyte from within an adjacent battery cell from contacting the flame arrestor.

13. The vent cap of claim 10, wherein the holder has a radially inwardly extending annular shelf, and the flame arrestor is disposed in said holder on said shelf.

14. The vent cap of claim 10, wherein the first vent cover has a generally tubular inner wall extending downwardly from the top wall of the cover, an upper surface of the holder is secured in a gas-tight seal to a bottom shoulder of the inner wall, and the aperture communicates directly with an interior space of the inner wall.

15. The vent cap of claim 14, further comprising means for securing the flame arrestor at its upper end to the bottom shoulder of the inner wall of the cover, and at its lower end to an inner face of the shelf of the holder.

16. The vent cap of claim 10, wherein the flame arrestor comprises a microporous disc.

17. The vent cap of claim 16, wherein the flame arrestor is made of polyethylene.